Intervention, therapy and support utilising a holistic, collaborative approach to promote optimal functioning and development.
Our Mission
I am profoundly committed to the belief that a holistic and collaborative approach is pivotal in supporting and advancing the education, mental health, and overall development of children on the spectrum or with developmental delays. Furthermore, I hold a deep conviction in the transformative impact that parents and professionals can have on the growth and functioning of neuro-diverse children. These fundamental beliefs form the cornerstone of Neuro Nurture’s ethos, mission, and methods.
Our goal is to strengthen
family bonds, foster balance, and promote skill acquisition.
Navigating life can be exceptionally challenging for children on the spectrum or with developmental delays, as well as for their parents. Feelings of frustration, isolation, resentment, and anger are common, compounded by the scarcity of appropriate support. However, I firmly believe that such struggles do not have to define your experience. At Neuro Nurture, we engage with your child across all facets of development—whether it’s behavioural, emotional, cognitive, social skills, school-based support, communication enhancement, or family counselling, and even in areas like potty training and beyond. Our goal is to strengthen family bonds, foster balance, and promote skill acquisition.
Regardless of where you and your family currently stand on this journey, Neuro Nurture is here to meet you at your point of need. It is my absolute passion and privilege to guide and support you and your child in achieving developmental milestones and mastering new skills.
Our Services
AUTISM SPECIFIC INTERVENTION
Comprehensive individualised intervention plans that are child-centred and strength-based incorporating a variety of developmental and autism therapies.
COUNSELLING
Helping you and your family find balance and resilience to build a solid foundation to foster strong life-long relationships. It starts with a conversation.
SCHOOL SUPPORT
Providing support & guidance using a collaborative, individualised approach with evidence-based strategies to help your neuro-diverse child thrive at school.
Hi! I’m Kirsten
Founder of Neuro Nurture
Finding successful intervention, the proper support and solution-orientated therapy does not need to be difficult. At Neuro Nurture, our methodology is rooted in a multi-disciplinary approach. We are dedicated to empowering parents, enhancing the skills of neuro-diverse individuals, and delivering practical, objective-driven training to both schools and parents. With a rich background in the field, holding a Masters (MSsc) with a focus on autism spectrum disorder, education and therapeutic intervention from UCT, certification as an ASD Specialist (IBBCS), and extensive training in various autism therapies, including DIR Floortime, HANDLE, sensory integration, and ESDM, in addition to my qualifications as a certified counsellor, my commitment, enthusiasm, and drive are geared towards uplifting, nurturing, and enriching the lives of families and individuals with autism, other learning challenges, and developmental delays.
ARE YOU READY TO EMBRACE A NEW WAY FORWARD?
Courses and Training
Knowledge and education are key to fostering inclusion, skill development, behaviour intervention and creating an environment that caters to every neuro-diverse individual! I offer school training for teachers and staff and parent training.
POTTY TRAINING
Let’s ditch the nappies! Get immediate access to learn how to potty train your child with autism! A comprehensive step-by-step course that will get your child toilet trained!
LET’S DO THIS!
SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Professional development workshops are individually customised to every school’s needs to provide intervention, strategies and resources to foster the perfect learning environment for neuro-diverse learners!
TELL ME MORE!
PARENT SUPPORT WORKSHOPS
From creating the perfect environment, reducing behaviours and nurturing communication and skills, my FREE parent workshops equip you with the knowledge to best support your child.
FREE WORKSHOPS!
Podcast
Have you subscribed to the Neuro Nurture podcast? This is a FREE resource with lots of information, tips and tricks to help you and your child go from surviving to THRIVING!
Resources
Creating a visually rich environment is key! I upload visual resources on a regular basis (many which are FREE) that will aid in your child’s success, reduce behaviour and increase communication.
Let’s Get Social
I post plenty of tips and tricks, inspiration and advice (almost) daily, follow along with a community of likeminded individuals!
The incredible qualities and positives of autism 🧠❤️🌟😍
What else can you think of? 👇
By Adam Walton.
The term “mild autism” often doesn’t reflect the child’s internal experience, which can involve significant challenges and effort to navigate everyday situations. 🧠
‼️What might appear mild to outsiders can actually involve intense struggles and coping mechanisms like masking, which can be exhausting for the child.
Recognizing this can lead to greater empathy and understanding ❤️
By Adam Walton.
The term “mild autism” often doesn’t reflect the child’s internal experience, which can involve significant challenges and effort to navigate everyday situations. 🧠
‼️What might appear mild to outsiders can actually involve intense struggles and coping mechanisms like masking, which can be exhausting for the child.
Recognizing this can lead to greater empathy and understanding ❤️
🧠👤 Understanding the nervous system in autistic children involves exploring how sensory processing, emotional regulation, and behavioural responses might differ. These differences are partly rooted in how the nervous system processes, interprets, and reacts to information. ❤️
Back to Biology 101 🥸. The nervous system is divided into 2 main two primary components:
🫶Central Nervous System (CNS): Consists of the brain and spinal cord. 👉 processing information, behaviour.
🫶Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Includes all the other neural elements outside the CNS, such as sensory neurons and nerves. 👉 transmitting information to and from the CNS and the rest of the body.
The Autonomic Nervous System (Part of the PNS) plays a crucial role in regulating involuntary physiological functions, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and arousal. The ANS is split into:
👋Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares the body for stress-related activities (“fight or flight” response).
👋Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body down and conserves energy after stress (“rest and digest”).
Due to many autistic children experiencing hypersensitivities (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivities (under-responsiveness) to sensory stimuli such as sounds, light, touch, taste, and smell. Such sensitivities are thought to be due to differences in how their nervous systems process and integrate sensory information. 👅👃👀
⚖️ Differences in the nervous system can also influence emotional and behavioral regulation. Autistic children may show variability in expressing and managing emotions and/or show behaviors that are calming or self-stimulating (e.g., rocking, flapping hands) which can help manage sensory overload or emotional stress 😌
This chart is a starting point 🏁 and you might find that some activities work better than others, or that your child’s signs are different. There are other states e.g fawn, these are just the most prevalent ❤️
Like, share and save for whoever may benefit 🤗
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#autism #emotionalregulation #autismtipsforparents #autismfamily #autismlove #autismacceptance #autismtherapist #autismawareness #autismsouthafrica #autismawarenessmonth
🧠👤 Understanding the nervous system in autistic children involves exploring how sensory processing, emotional regulation, and behavioural responses might differ. These differences are partly rooted in how the nervous system processes, interprets, and reacts to information. ❤️
Back to Biology 101 🥸. The nervous system is divided into 2 main two primary components:
🫶Central Nervous System (CNS): Consists of the brain and spinal cord. 👉 processing information, behaviour.
🫶Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Includes all the other neural elements outside the CNS, such as sensory neurons and nerves. 👉 transmitting information to and from the CNS and the rest of the body.
The Autonomic Nervous System (Part of the PNS) plays a crucial role in regulating involuntary physiological functions, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and arousal. The ANS is split into:
👋Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares the body for stress-related activities (“fight or flight” response).
👋Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body down and conserves energy after stress (“rest and digest”).
Due to many autistic children experiencing hypersensitivities (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivities (under-responsiveness) to sensory stimuli such as sounds, light, touch, taste, and smell. Such sensitivities are thought to be due to differences in how their nervous systems process and integrate sensory information. 👅👃👀
⚖️ Differences in the nervous system can also influence emotional and behavioral regulation. Autistic children may show variability in expressing and managing emotions and/or show behaviors that are calming or self-stimulating (e.g., rocking, flapping hands) which can help manage sensory overload or emotional stress 😌
This chart is a starting point 🏁 and you might find that some activities work better than others, or that your child’s signs are different. There are other states e.g fawn, these are just the most prevalent ❤️
Like, share and save for whoever may benefit 🤗
.
.
.
.
#autism #emotionalregulation #autismtipsforparents #autismfamily #autismlove #autismacceptance #autismtherapist #autismawareness #autismsouthafrica #autismawarenessmonth
8 common autism traits in children that are not often recognised 🔍
Recognising these traits can be helpful in understanding and supporting autistic children🌎.
‼️it’s important to remember that autism is a spectrum and not all children will exhibit all of these traits. Each child is unique and their individual differences should be appreciated and supported ☀️
8 common autism traits in children that are not often recognised 🔍
Recognising these traits can be helpful in understanding and supporting autistic children🌎.
‼️it’s important to remember that autism is a spectrum and not all children will exhibit all of these traits. Each child is unique and their individual differences should be appreciated and supported ☀️
When unexpected changes throw off the day, whether it’s a new teacher at school👩🏫, you need to take a different route 🏡 , the shops are overcrowded🗣️, someone comes to visit or their favourite snacks are out of stock🙈 , it can be ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING for autistic children who thrive on sameness and predictability.
🙌🏻 Here is a phrase to help validate their feelings and guide them through this moment:
“You didn’t expect this today” “It’s okay to feel upset about it” “How can we make this a little easier for you?”
This not only VALIDATES their need for consistency, it helps them feel seen in a world that often feels unpredictable ❤️
One day they will then also be able to use this phrase to advocate for themselves when they are feeling dysregulated from feeling out of routine.
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#autismawareness #autismacceptance #inclusiveeducation #supportiveparenting #routine #autism #autismcapetown #autismmom #tipsandtricks
When unexpected changes throw off the day, whether it’s a new teacher at school👩🏫, you need to take a different route 🏡 , the shops are overcrowded🗣️, someone comes to visit or their favourite snacks are out of stock🙈 , it can be ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING for autistic children who thrive on sameness and predictability.
🙌🏻 Here is a phrase to help validate their feelings and guide them through this moment:
“You didn’t expect this today” “It’s okay to feel upset about it” “How can we make this a little easier for you?”
This not only VALIDATES their need for consistency, it helps them feel seen in a world that often feels unpredictable ❤️
One day they will then also be able to use this phrase to advocate for themselves when they are feeling dysregulated from feeling out of routine.
.
.
.
#autismawareness #autismacceptance #inclusiveeducation #supportiveparenting #routine #autism #autismcapetown #autismmom #tipsandtricks
Let’s talk about post school fatigue 😴😮💨
Teachers rave about your child at school only to come home and you feel it’s a completely different situation? These big emotions, meltdowns and ‘letting go’ as soon as your child comes home is normal! ❤️
You might be thinking well this is common in all kids?? Yes. However neurodiverse children experience this on a heightened, waayy more intense level 💣
Can it be the other way around? Absolutely!
I have listed a few things that you can implement to help 🙌🏻
As always, save snd share with whoever needs to hear this 🤗
Let’s talk about post school fatigue 😴😮💨
Teachers rave about your child at school only to come home and you feel it’s a completely different situation? These big emotions, meltdowns and ‘letting go’ as soon as your child comes home is normal! ❤️
You might be thinking well this is common in all kids?? Yes. However neurodiverse children experience this on a heightened, waayy more intense level 💣
Can it be the other way around? Absolutely!
I have listed a few things that you can implement to help 🙌🏻
As always, save snd share with whoever needs to hear this 🤗
Self advocacy is one of the MOST important skills your child can learn! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
❤️ Especially kids on the spectrum as they face constant challenges particularly at school. Here are a few scripts you can teach your child to say when they are placed in a situation where they need to stand up for themselves and set boundaries 🥊
I know so many parents fear that their child will be ‘walked over’ or mistreated at school 😔 it’s really important to know that even if they are non-speaking they can still advocate for themselves! Make visuals or programme it onto their AAC device and role play, model situations where they may have to use them 💪
Here are a few more!
- “I need quiet”
- “I am listening, I listen better when I _____”
Save and share with whoever may benefit ❤️
Self advocacy is one of the MOST important skills your child can learn! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
❤️ Especially kids on the spectrum as they face constant challenges particularly at school. Here are a few scripts you can teach your child to say when they are placed in a situation where they need to stand up for themselves and set boundaries 🥊
I know so many parents fear that their child will be ‘walked over’ or mistreated at school 😔 it’s really important to know that even if they are non-speaking they can still advocate for themselves! Make visuals or programme it onto their AAC device and role play, model situations where they may have to use them 💪
Here are a few more!
- “I need quiet”
- “I am listening, I listen better when I _____”
Save and share with whoever may benefit ❤️
❤️ Quote by Kaelynn Paerlow.
We need awareness AND acceptance. ❤️ I’ve been seeing a lot of discussions on social media lately, especially in light of autism month, indicating it should be ‘acceptance month’ and not ‘awareness month’. Here is the thing: without awareness, education and information spread out there, no acceptance will be achieved. I think this quote sums it up perfectly! BOTH are needed, lots of it! 📈🧠
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#autismawareness #autismacceptance #autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismtherapist #autismsupport #autisminclusion #autismquotes
❤️ Quote by Kaelynn Paerlow.
We need awareness AND acceptance. ❤️ I’ve been seeing a lot of discussions on social media lately, especially in light of autism month, indicating it should be ‘acceptance month’ and not ‘awareness month’. Here is the thing: without awareness, education and information spread out there, no acceptance will be achieved. I think this quote sums it up perfectly! BOTH are needed, lots of it! 📈🧠
.
.
.
.
#autismawareness #autismacceptance #autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismtherapist #autismsupport #autisminclusion #autismquotes
But they are SO SOCIAL how can they be autistic?? Hands up for how many times you’ve heard this?! ☝️
A HUGE 🤯 misconception is that if a child is sociable they cannot be on the spectrum. Well… they definitely can be. We are often given a very warped version of what and how autism presents as.
There are however, social communication differences that may be signs that I have listed in this post. These are not ‘dysfunctional’ or ‘wrong’ they are just DIFFERENT ways of communicating! 🤗 these are just a few examples. ❤️
But they are SO SOCIAL how can they be autistic?? Hands up for how many times you’ve heard this?! ☝️
A HUGE 🤯 misconception is that if a child is sociable they cannot be on the spectrum. Well… they definitely can be. We are often given a very warped version of what and how autism presents as.
There are however, social communication differences that may be signs that I have listed in this post. These are not ‘dysfunctional’ or ‘wrong’ they are just DIFFERENT ways of communicating! 🤗 these are just a few examples. ❤️
HOW TO RESPOND AT A FAMILY GATHERING/HOLIDAY 🌈
Every family is different and every child with autism is different so you may have different family experiences compared to other parents with an autistic child. However, there are some similarities in questions/comments that often arise over and over again.
🫶🏻it may be beneficial before the holiday or gathering to communicate with family members on where your child is at, the goals and values you have set out and the boundaries that need to be met. Sometimes you may get asked some questions that may be uncomfortable or difficult to answer, so I’ve listed a few and potential answers that could come in handy! 🌟
Always remember: YOU are the expert on your own child, YOU know what’s best for them, YOU know them better than anyone else ❤️
🌟 make/take accommodations if needed, take/ use visual schedules, comfort items, their favourite sensory toys, write a little social story if you are going away or going out to someone’s home and repeat it to them multiple times before the time. These will help with transitions, reduce anxiety and increase predictability! ❤️
HOW TO RESPOND AT A FAMILY GATHERING/HOLIDAY 🌈
Every family is different and every child with autism is different so you may have different family experiences compared to other parents with an autistic child. However, there are some similarities in questions/comments that often arise over and over again.
🫶🏻it may be beneficial before the holiday or gathering to communicate with family members on where your child is at, the goals and values you have set out and the boundaries that need to be met. Sometimes you may get asked some questions that may be uncomfortable or difficult to answer, so I’ve listed a few and potential answers that could come in handy! 🌟
Always remember: YOU are the expert on your own child, YOU know what’s best for them, YOU know them better than anyone else ❤️
🌟 make/take accommodations if needed, take/ use visual schedules, comfort items, their favourite sensory toys, write a little social story if you are going away or going out to someone’s home and repeat it to them multiple times before the time. These will help with transitions, reduce anxiety and increase predictability! ❤️
Holiday GIFT IDEAS!! 🌈🎁
Trying to figure out what to get your child can be rather tricky so I’ve compiled a list of examples including the store where it’s available.
This is a South African specific gift guide but if you are from another country you can search for similar items 🌟
Where to even begin?? Start by noting if your child craves visual, auditory, tactile, oral or sensory input (sensory seeking/avoidant) or a combination. Then consider your child’s passions, favourite colours etc and combine it all to search for gifts that you know they will love!
An example: you know your child loves playing with balls, their favourite colour is blue and they are also visually stimulated- meaning they love flashing lights/ different colours/bright objects. The blue light up sensory ball on page 4 of the carousel may therefore be a perfect fit 🥳🤩
Please feel free to share with any family members or anyone who may benefit from this post ❤️
Holiday GIFT IDEAS!! 🌈🎁
Trying to figure out what to get your child can be rather tricky so I’ve compiled a list of examples including the store where it’s available.
This is a South African specific gift guide but if you are from another country you can search for similar items 🌟
Where to even begin?? Start by noting if your child craves visual, auditory, tactile, oral or sensory input (sensory seeking/avoidant) or a combination. Then consider your child’s passions, favourite colours etc and combine it all to search for gifts that you know they will love!
An example: you know your child loves playing with balls, their favourite colour is blue and they are also visually stimulated- meaning they love flashing lights/ different colours/bright objects. The blue light up sensory ball on page 4 of the carousel may therefore be a perfect fit 🥳🤩
Please feel free to share with any family members or anyone who may benefit from this post ❤️
Autistic children are often misunderstood and punished for seemingly ‘messing up’ and doing the ‘wrong’ thing, when most of the time they do not have the SKILLS to get through a situation they may find challenging.
👉🏽Providing long term support and solutions outweighs punishment. This doesn’t mean there are no boundaries in place. Tangible, meaningful consequences may be necessary, however, connection, communication, understanding and collaboration will ALWAYS benefit the child in the long run 🌟
Quote by Rebecca Eanes
Autistic children are often misunderstood and punished for seemingly ‘messing up’ and doing the ‘wrong’ thing, when most of the time they do not have the SKILLS to get through a situation they may find challenging.
👉🏽Providing long term support and solutions outweighs punishment. This doesn’t mean there are no boundaries in place. Tangible, meaningful consequences may be necessary, however, connection, communication, understanding and collaboration will ALWAYS benefit the child in the long run 🌟
Quote by Rebecca Eanes
On The Blog
Up to date, research driven articles on all topics related to development
‘Picky’ Eating & autism
I saw this meme the other day and couldn't help have a chuckle. I am sure you can relate! Let's face it- you have tried everything under the sun to get your child to move away from their safe foods...
Why, when & how to tell your child about their Autism diagnosis.
Many parents dread this topic- and rightly so. Questions about when to tell their child, how to tell their child, worries about stigma and mental health all play a role in parents wanting to hold...
AUTISM 101 & EARLY SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR
If you had to place 10 children with Autism in one room, each child will be completely different. They will all have varying levels of communication, different types of behaviour, a range of social...